Spring is just around the corner and next thing you know, summer will have arrived. When most people think of summer, they picture beaches, patios, and bathing suits, but I love me a good BBQ party. Food just tastes better on a grill. So it’s no surprise that I’m trying to make the experience portable. A portable BBQ will become your new best friend—and help you make lots of others.
Right now, I’m obsessed with this BBQTEK Portable Propane model. It’s compact, easy to manage, and light enough to carry from one beach party to the next. It even has a handle so you can hold it like a suitcase. Although it seems small, it can let you grill up to twelve burger patties at once. That’s efficient. It also includes a built-in thermometer and heat control so you can get the perfect grill.
The best part of having a portable BBQ is all the places you can take it. Here are a few to get you started.
The Beach or Park
Whether it’s a beach party or a picnic, a BBQ is essential. Set up the volleyball net and spend the entire day soaking in the sun with your friends. Toss burgers, corn on the cob, and hot dogs on the grill and it’ll feed a lot of hungry bellies. Get your friends to bring sides or their own favourite meats. Of course, follow the rules of the beach or park about where you can set up your cooking station.
Tailgate Parties
I think this is more of an American pastime than a Canadian one. A few of my friends were invited to a tailgate party in Detroit and to their surprise, they had the time of their lives. However, the concept seems to be slowly picking up in Canada. BBQing before the next CFL game sounds like a great plan. And everyone loves chicken wings, especially when watching football. Instead of making the deep fried version, why not put a couple dozen on the grill? They’re delicious. Don’t forget the blue cheese dressing. Check out this recipe from Grilling Companion and tips how to grill wings properly:
| Ingredients:
Chicken Wings (thawed, if frozen) Kosher Salt Fresh Ground Pepper Wing Sauce (Crystal or Budweiser are our favorites, look for them near the Ketchup) |
Directions
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Grilled chicken wings tend to flare up quite a bit on the grill, so keep an eye on them. If you see a flare-up, just move your wings out of the flame and close the lid to put out the flames.
Season the chicken wings on all sides with Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. We also like to cut off the actual tips of the wings, you know, the part that has no meat. They just get in the way and make it so our chicken wings don’t lay flat on the grill.
Camping
I’m not a camper. I might consider being a glamper, though I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Regardless, portable BBQs are a must for camping. If you get a propane BBQ, make sure you have enough fuel for your trip. Many campers, however, would prefer a charcoal model, if only for the better s’mores.
Road Trips
When I was a kid, my family loved to go on road trips to California. We’d stop at parks along the way to eat lunch or snacks. Why not go on a road trip within Canada and if BBQs are your thing, bring one? It’d be cool to grab meat from a local butcher and BBQ in a city’s park or beach. This would make a great budget friendly vacation with your family.
Enjoy BBQ Season!
